The Rawview #6: Raw gets retro

I have high hopes that the Rawview will hit its stride soon, its 'Attitude Era' so to say. Right now its sitting somewhere around bingo hall wrestling but above backyard wrestling, I'd like to think.

This week we begin with the sad news that William Moody, the gentlemen whom we know best for playing Paul Bearer has passed away. He will forever be one of the most iconic managers in wrestling history. Rest in peace.

A week removed and the Jack Swagger memes are still coming thick and fast. This was my favourite:

Monday Night Raw went 'Old School' this week. This meant that the show was dressed up to look like it did back in the day despite the product remaining markedly inferior, ZING! Nonetheless, it was a fun blast from the past in which the typical old legends were dragged out to shuffle about the place. We don't need to see Hacksaw Jim Duggan wrestling, we really don't.

The main story of the week was the WrestleMania match between CM Punk and The Undertaker finally being made official. We've known this was coming for a long time but now that it's official, and with only 5 weeks to go, WWE can finally start building towards it. One thing that I found strange was Punk having to earn the match by winning a Fatal Fourway match against Sheamus, Big Show and Randy Orton. Enough story already existed to set this match up. The 'Best in the World' taking a shot at the impossible. Or Punk could have come out claiming this his lengthy title reign was “the most impressive streak in Wrestling history.” Cue the gong. I understand that Raw needed a main event but the match just seemed silly.

Rock and Cena finally went face to face to renew their rivalry and it was deja vu all over again. Cena is still saying “I need to win!” Rock is still saying “I'm going to win!” We've seen this all before. These guys really need to pull the finger out, give us something new and show why they deserve consecutive 'Mania main events. So far, I'm bored.

We saw very little development in the two other big 'Mania feuds. Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio both had matches on Raw but they never crossed paths in any meaningful way. HHH cut a promo about why he's returned and Lesnar was nowhere to be seen. WWE is cutting it very fine in selling these matches to us. There are 5 weeks to go and we only have 3 announced matches and no mid-card feuds to speak of. Things NEED to start taking shape next week.

It's possible that the WWE foreshadowed a Ryback and Mark Henry feud (which kind of makes sense) with a nerve-shattering stare down. However, this would be giving WWE creative a lot of credit and suggesting that they understand the concept of subtlety. And are we really going to start a feud based off of someone looking at someone else the wrong way? Oh, and the match? Don't get me started.

Faaaaahhhhhhhn... Daaaahhhng... Goooooooo (sort of) debuted on Smackdown and Raw this week. Terrible, utterly terrible. If you're only keeping on a talent to make a mockery of him (see Tensai, Brodus Clay etc.) then don't bother. I don't know much about Johnny Curtis but I know he deserves better than this. Clear out the talent that you aren't going to use and don't give us this crap.

Oh oh oh! I almost forgot! The New Age Outlaws returned to in-ring action and it was great. For two guys of, somewhat, advanced years, they looked good in the ring. Road Dogg Jesse James is still in-flippin-credible on the mic and those catch phrases sounded as good as ever. Delighted to have them back.

And the rest was all filler content. That's all the worthwhile news and developments from the week in wrestling. I'm excited for the CM Punk and Undertaker feud. That's it. I have faith that some mid-card feuds that interest me will be thrown together and I look forward to a potential Ziggler cash in. Outside of this, the other announced matches have no allure. WrestleMania will be good, it always is, but I will be very surprised if it is great.